Jill Scott To Receive Honorary Doctorate From Alma Mater

As if the platinum-selling soulstress that is Jill Scott needed any more accolades added to her esteemed career, she’s now en route to her alma mater to receive an honorary doctorate.

Temple University’s 127th commencement ceremony, which takes place on Thursday (May 15), will include commemorating the 42-year-old singer as a Doctor of Humane Letters. If you’ve followed the North Philly native’s career, you know she was cast in the Canadian production of Rent prior to releasing her multiplatinum-selling LP Who is Jill Scott?Words & Sounds, Vol. I (2000).

Having produced three more albums since, Scott today spearheads the Blues Babe Foundation, which is named after her grandmother. The organization aims to help underserved students in the Delaware Valley achieve their postsecondary educational goals, under financial assistance and mentorship.

Among her other accolades are 13 Grammy nominations/three awards, three Soul Train awards, the 2001 Lady of Soul “Entertainer of the Year” Award, and the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-series or Dramatic Special.”